The corporation had decided to remove all encroachments to widen the roads in the entire city in view of World Classical TamilCon ference. It had already evicted encroachments in many areas. On Sunday, the corporation’s town planning wing officials demolished Bannari Mariamman and Nandha Vilakku temples on Kamarajarpuram- Kikkani 60ft road at RS Puram.

These temples were said to be 25 years old. A team led by Town Planning Officer Soundararajan used two earth movers to remove the temples even as the residents of the area protested against the demolition.

Shedding tears, women requested the officials not to demolish the temples.

The officials removed the idols and placed them safe inside the corporation’s water tank compound at Parathi Park before demolishing the temples.